Kathryn Winslow (pictured here during a recent bike tour) will join Laura Kaltenstein to teach a basic bike maintenance class on Saturday, March 10, at the UAS-Sitka Campus

Riding a bike can be fun, but it’s not so fun when you get a flat tire, your chain gets stretched out or your rear derailleur malfunctions. Do you want to learn how to give your bike a spring tuneup?

Kathryn Winslow and Laura Kaltenstein will teach a bicycle maintenance class from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, at Room 115 of the University of Alaska Southeast-Sitka Campus. Kathryn and Laura will teach basic bike maintenance, from troubleshooting and adjusting your rear derailleurs to fixing a flat tire and replacing your brake pads. They also will teach you how to tune up your bike. Knowing how to fix your own bike not only will save you money, but it will ensure your bike is safe to ride.

“A broken bike is a boring bike,” Kathryn said. “Be the boss of your bike. Learn how to fix it if it breaks.”

Students are encouraged to register in advance for the class (a minimum of five students need to enroll for the class to be taught). Students should bring their bikes, tire irons, a chain gauge, chain lubricant and a bike tool set, if they have them.

The class, which is offered through the UAS Office of Continuing Education, Community Education and Professional Development, costs $59 and students can call 747-7762 or 1-800-478-6653, Ext. 7762, or they can go to http://www.uas.alaska.edu/sitka/coed to register. If the weather is nice, there possibly will be a group bike ride after the class.

The presentation covers Jeff’s and Laura’s trip in September and October down Highway 101 and Highway 1, from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. They followed the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route maps available from the Adventure Cycling Association, which has developed several bicycle tour routes and maps around the country.

The Pacific Coast Bicycle Route covers 1,853.5 miles from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Imperial Beach, Calif. Highlights of the trip included windswept beaches, haystack-shaped rocks along the coastline, dairy farms, massive redwood trees, vineyards, vegetable farms and many urban areas.

Jeff and Laura will give a similar presentation about their trip during the noon meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31, of the Sitka Rotary Club, held at the Sitka Westmark Hotel.